Every year, there are millions of crashes nationwide, and hundreds of thousands of injuries. While it would be wonderful if you were never involved in a car accident, unfortunately, the chances you’ll be in at least one crash in your lifetime are extremely high.
The problem is, when people are involved in car accidents, they have a tendency to make some mistakes. Why? For starters, accidents are “exciting” events and not in the way taking a much-anticipated vacation is exciting, and not in the way a roller coaster is exciting. They’re “exciting” in that they can cause a flood of adrenaline and even shock.
When people get into car accidents, they’re usually not thinking clearly, especially if it’s their first collision. So, what they’ll do is mistakenly take the blame, forget to take down important information, or agree not to call the cops. In the end, these common and typical mistakes often hurt innocent drivers during the insurance claims process. To avoid making a mistake after an accident, take the following advice to heart.
After a Car Accident
Take these steps if you’re ever in an accident:
- Don’t stop your car until you have it in a safe place.
- If needed, move your car to keep it from blocking traffic or getting struck by another vehicle.
- Call the police, always, especially if anyone was hurt or if it was a hit and run accident.
- Get the other driver’s contact information, including their name, home address, contact number, driver license number, license plate number, and insurance policy information (exactly as it appears on the driver’s insurance card).
- If there were any witnesses, get their names, addresses, and phone numbers.
- Do not let the at-fault driver talk you into forgetting about the accident. For all you know, there could be unknown injuries, hidden damages, or later on a lawsuit can be filed against you by the other driver.
- If you’re able to, take pictures and videos with your smartphone to document the accident and the conditions that day.
- Contact a personal injury attorney from our firm right away to file a personal injury claim for compensation. We can answer your questions and guide you through the claims process.
Next: How is Fault Determined in a Car Accident?
To file a car accident claim in Columbia, South Carolina, contact our firm today!